BPP University History

BPP University History

BPP was established in 1976 by Alan Brierley, Richard Price and Charles Prior to provide specialist training for accountancy qualifications. Pioneering the use of new word processing technology they created specialist study learning texts for those sitting chartered accountancy exams. They quickly grew, adding classroom tuition and opened learning centres around the UK and in Europe. In 1987 they listed on the London Stock Exchange and were part of the FTSE 250 category of companies when they were acquired by the Apollo Global Education network in 2009. BPP Professional Education operates through its exam training business (BPP Professional Education Limited) and its publishing business (BPP Learning Media Limited). BPP also owns a specialist Dutch professional education provider, Markus Verbeek. BPP Professional Education comprises exam training for external professional bodies in the areas of accountancy, actuarial science, tax, financial services, insolvency and short course professional development.

University status

BPP University originally started in 1991 as BPP Law School offering graduate professional legal education for students wanting to qualify as Solicitors or Barristers in England and Wales. In 2005 BPP Law School became the founding School of BPP College which was awarded degree awarding powers by the UK’s Privy Council in 2007. In 2010 BPP College was granted University College status and became “BPP University College”. In 2013 BPP met the criteria for full university title, and BPP University College of Professional Studies became BPP University on 6 August 2013.

The University comprises of four schools: BPP Law School, BPP Business School, BPP School of Health and BPP School of Foundation and English Language Studies. The power to award degrees is vested in BPP University. BPP University also provides some programmes that lead to the awards of other bodies and these are indicated on the individual programme pages.

Education for the professions

Today, as one of Europe’s leading professional training and education providers, we have over 2,000 staff in 40 worldwide locations and teach over 30,000 people a year.